For every 1000 live births, six to nine women in the United States died of pregnancy-related complications, and approximately 100 infants died before age 1 year (CDC, 1999 p.849). Most births occurred at home with the assistance of midwives or general practitioners. As a result, 40% of maternal deaths were caused by sepsis with the remaining deaths primarily attributed to hemorrhage and toxemia (CDC, 1999 p.849). If the mother and child did survive the birth they had to contend with the effects of the poor environmental and living conditions in urban areas. Improvements that were made to urban environments were things such as sewage and trash disposal and safe drinking water, which played key roles in reducing infant mortality. Declining fertility rates also contributed to reductions in infant mortality through longer spacing of children, smaller family size, and better nutritional status of mothers and infants (CDC, 1999 p.852). The milk pasteurization reduced gastrointestinal infections from contaminated milk supplies again giving the infant a chance to make it through those first couple of years of life. During the 1990s, the awareness of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) made a great impact in the rate of continued lives with, more than 50% decline in SIDS rates. Attributed to the recommendation that infants be …show more content…
Prevention of disease starts in our communities and at home. Examples of improvements for patients are some hospitals or doctor’s office offer options of transportation to and from their appointments. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, preventive screening has become the standard operating procedure for all care, such as immunizations and cancer screenings, they have better health and lower health care costs. For example, if the disease can be detected and treated before it has effected several of the vital organs it will prolong life. Also education is the tool to empowering patients, the more they know the more they can help themselves. In the era of technology and overall healthcare, providers are able to communicate with their patients via phone, text, email or skype from the comfort of their home. By eliminating reasons why a person cannot receive the care needed to be healthier, this will in turn allow a person to live longer and the longevity continues to